1978. Skokie, Illinois. Do you remember? The Nazis announced they would march in this Chicago suburb, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, right down the street from where I live. It was actually More than Jewish in those days. It was Holocaust survivors. People who were there. Who knew.
A legal battle began. The Nazis won. But after they won, they canceled their Skokie plans. Over a year of court wrangling for what? Some say only the lawyers won. But the issue all this brought up needs to be looked at well. And that issue is not just Israel's right to be. It is just how far we take freedom of speech.
For the Christian, the water gets fairly murky. Just how free is the believer to speak his mind? Christ actually puts many controls on His people for their own good. "Sound speech which cannot be condemned" is the norm for us, not free speech.
Does Christ grant His own what the constitution grants the American? Unlimited freedom to curse, to complain, to villify? Certainly Mohammed would not permit free speech regarding his god. Does Christ? Are we clinging to an American ideal when we praise the idea of free speech?
More questions come... Should we equate Americanism with Christianity? Should we fight for the right to speak about Jesus anywhere? Do we then as Americans fight for the atheist's right to spit on our God? For the Muslim's right to praise Allah and spread his faith?
Will there be freedom of speech in the Millennium? In Heaven? Surely no one is permitted to come against Christ the King verbally then? Should they be allowed now?
I only put out questions today, not answers. But it seems to me a person could be an excellent American citizen without being much of a Christian at all. Let's keep remembering where our citizenship really is.
http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com
And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.
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